Insulated rail-joint.



No. 739,077. PATENTED SEPT. 15, 1903. J. 7.. (mm. INSULATED RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

Prm'roumo" WASHINGTON,

m: NORRIS PETERS cu I. WITNESSES I I v UNITED STATES Patented September15, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN JOSEPH GUNN, OF YPSILANTI, MICHIGAN.

INSULATED RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 739,077, dated September15, 1903.

' Application filed May 26, 1902. Serial No. 108,909. (No model.) I

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN JOSEPH GUNN, a citizen of theUnited States,residing at Ypsilanti, county of Washtenaw, State of Michigan, haveinvented'a certain new and useful Improvement in Insulated Rail-Jointsand I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit pertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Myinvention relates toinsulated rail-joints for block systems inrailroads; and the object of my improvements is to provide an improvedinsulated rail-joint which is convenient to apply and durable.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation showingthe ends of two rails insulated from each other and connected togetherby a joint embodying my in vention. Fig. 2 is a section on the line as mof Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail showing in perspective the insulationbetween the ends of the two rails.

A is the'end of one rail, and Bis the end of the other rail. j

E is a piece of insulation having the form of the cross-section of therail, interposed between the ends of the rails A and B. The rails are ofthe T or I form of cross-section.

H is a short piece of rail placed with its base toward the bases of therails A and B and lapping the joint between said rails.

O C are fish-plates having flanges extending approximately horizontalbeyond the bases of the rails A, B, and- 1-1. These plates fit into thehollow of the rails between the head and base.

D represents bolts securing the opposite fish-plates 0 0 together in theusual way.

F F are pieces of insulation interposed between the webs and bases ofthe rails A and B and the fish-plates O C, so as to insulate said platesfrom said rails.

J is a sleeve of insulating material surrounding each of the bolts D andinsulating said bolts from the rails A B.

G is a piece of insulation interposed between the rail-section H and therails A B.

I represents U-shaped bolts passing below the rail-section H and havingtheir ends passing through holes in the flanges of the fishplates 0 0beyond the bases of the rails.

- f It will be noticed that the above-described joint is quite easilyapplied, that the rails A and B are completely insulated from eachother, and that when. a weight, as that of a passing car, rests upon theend of one of said rails the ends of both rails A B will bend downtogether, as they are secured together,

so that there is no relative motion of the parts to break or abrade theinsulation, as in joints commonly in use for this purpose.

What I claim is- 1. Au insulated rail-joint consistingof fishplateshaving flanges extending beyond the base of the rails, insulatingmaterial interposed between the fish-plates and the rails, bolts passingthrough said fish-plates and rails insulated from the latter, a piece ofrail placed beneath said rails with its base toward the same and lappingthe joint, insulating material interposed between the rails and saidpiece of rail and U-bolts passing beneath said piece of rail andengaging with the flanges of the fish-plates beyond the railbase.

2. An insulated joint for T-shaped rails consisting of fish-plateshaving flanges extending beyond the rail-base, said plates being locatedin the hollow of the rail between the head and base, insulating materialinterposed between said fish-plates and the rail web and'base, boltspassing through said fishplates and rails insulated from the latter, apiece of T-shaped rail placed beneath said rails with its base towardthe same; insulating material interposed between the rails and saidpiece of rail, and U-bolts passing beneath said piece of rail andengaging with the flanges of the fish-plates beyond the rail.

. In testimony whereof I sign this specifica tion in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN JOSEPH GUNN.

